Newsletter December 20, 2024

Let Go of Fear!

Can you imagine reaching a place where you no longer feared the unknown? A space where you trusted that what’s around the corner won’t harm you? To me, that would be absolute freedom. Not spending time consumed by “what ifs” about the future is my personal definition of peace.

We’re just five days away from Jesus’s birth, and it’s so easy to get swept up in the chaos of Christmas—the gifts, the tree, the meals, and my adult children coming home for the holidays. Striving for perfection in all of it? It can drive me crazy! But I must pause and ask myself: What truly matters this time of year? Is it about achieving perfection, or is it about finding peace, being still, and thanking God for sending Jesus to Earth for all of us?

This season, I’ve been listening to Advent reflections on the Hallow App and Ascension with Father Mike Schmitz. On the 18th, Father Mike spoke about fear and shared a story I’d heard before but never fully absorbed—until now.

He talked about Joseph. When Mary revealed she was pregnant with the Messiah through immaculate conception, Joseph was confused, fearful, and even considered divorcing her. Can you imagine? In today’s world, I think I’d probably run for the hills, too! How could Mary be “the one God chose”? Joseph’s fears were real, and his gut reaction was, “I need to get divorced.” Yet he didn’t follow through—he trusted God.

Reflecting on Joseph’s fear brought me back to my first marriage. When things got tough, my first instinct was also to run. “This is too much! I can’t handle it!” My fears about the future and regrets from the past felt overwhelming. Looking back 20 years later, I think: If I had taken the time to get sober, reach out for professional help, or even lean on my faith, would my life have been different? Of course, it would have. But would it have been better or worse? I’ll never know—and it doesn’t matter. What matters is that I’ve learned not to let fear dictate where I’m going.

Father Mike reminded me of something profound: None of us know what the future holds. The only certainty is that we will all leave this Earth someday. So why do we waste so much energy projecting what might happen tomorrow, next week, or next year?

Joy. Peace. Love. Gratitude. These gifts exist in the now. Worrying about the future—something none of us can predict—is a complete waste of time. I want to trust that everything will unfold in God’s time, not mine. My job is to live life one day at a time, one moment at a time.

Years of experience have taught me this: Nothing is inherently “good” or “bad”—it just is. My role is to learn from the past, avoid projecting negativity into the future, and stop setting unrealistic expectations. I once heard that expectations are premeditated resentments—and it’s true. Life feels so much lighter when we let go of what we wish would happen and accept things as they are.

This will be the third Christmas my son won’t be home, and yes, it breaks my heart. I wish I could change it, but I can’t. I have to trust that God has a plan.

To anyone reading this: I pray you have a wonderful Christmas. Take a moment to reflect on this—you’re doing the best you can, and that’s enough. Life isn’t easy for any of us, and no one has a “perfect” life. (Honestly, I think the only “normal” thing is Wonder Bread!). You are uniquely you, and that’s beautiful. Embrace it.

In closing, I want to share the Serenity Prayer, a powerful tool that has helped me navigate moments of fear and uncertainty:

The Serenity Prayer
God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. Remember—you are never alone. God is with you every step of the way.

Sending you big hugs and so much love this Christmas season.

Merry Christmas!

XO,
Elizabeth “Bizzy” Chance